When, at her father’s 50th birthday celebration, young Anna meets her Uncle Alexander, she’s very enthusiastic. Alexander is a circus director and completely different from the rest of her stuffy middle class family. Without further ado, she leaves the family home to join the circus. That inevitably leads to complications, for Anna is in love with the young gardener Robert. On top of that, Alexander’s wife Iduna is not exactly thrilled there’s a newcomer. She jealously watches Anna admire her uncle.